Seed treatment against mice

[mountaindweller]

I had no corn and no pumpkin this year and I replanted twice. They never came up and I think it is because of the mice.
I don't want a cat because they eat lizzards. I should coat the seeds with something mice don't like, pelleting. I don't think chili works because it does not work with chicken either (they like chili). Any good recipe, we have native and maybe non native mice too and maybe the one or the other "big mouse".
We have the chicken food in bins but as the children care for the chicken, they spill some.

[Leenstar]

Birds do not have capsaicin receptors, mammals do. Capsaicin will work for mammals. I watched a show about a bird sanctuary that had mice problems from the seed falling on the ground. They mixed seeds with chili (must be hot) and birds didn't mind, mice left it alone.

[steev]

Exactly; parrots and macaws are very fond of chiles, regardless of Scoville units.